Who remembers Mervyn Jack Mills? – Harvards at the NZ Warbirds show

Brian is sharing these pictures he took in New Zeland yesterday.

Brian had shared a whole lot on this blog about his uncle.

ORIGINAL

His nephew does.

He sent me this message with a few pictures.

I found this an enlightening account of night flying in a Spitfire.

http://rcafdunnville.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/jimmy-osborne.html

I live about 15 minutes away from Papakura and it used to have an Army Camp there.

Most of all I noted that he mentioned about five New Zealanders won a commission.

My Uncle Mervyn Jack Mills’ file says that his commissioned of Pilot Officer superceded that of Sergeant.

Scrolling down to Course 44 and looking at names of the New Zealanders.

I was reminded of James E Shields in the attached files.

Hope you find them interesting.

Regards, Brian Vonlanthen.

Jimmy Osborne was in Course 44 at No. 6 SFTS Dunnville with Mervyn.

No. 2 S.F.T.S. Uplands – Course 63 – September 1 to December 18, 1942 Redux

These names were found on this Website, and they have to be on this group picture. Four are identified.

(J/22036) Sidney Platt Seid – 418 Sqn.,

Frank E. Adams, Whitby;

Frank Alton, Lindsay;

Clarence F. Armstrong, Parry Sound;

Bruce A. Christie, Toronto;

William A. Gray, Toronto;

Donald B. McLaughlin, Toronto;

Bruce F. Beare, Port Perry;

David W. Burke, Hamilton;

Morris E. Gulliver, Leamington;

Oke Olson, Woodroffe;

Wilson N. Rivers, Ottawa;

William E. Smillie, London

29 young men.

I could only find information on Sid Seid.

Harvard 2595

Found on this Website…

2595	North American		Harvard	Mk.II
	NA-66	66-2328
	Assigned to No. 1 Training Command in Ontario.  Classified as instructional airframe A 279 on 27 March 1943.  Later marked 279B, probably post war.
	first date: 9 October 1940			last date: 27 November 1961
	Taken on strength			Struck off

Found on this Website…

Aerial shot of the buildings, runways, etc. of a RAF (Royal Air Force) training establishment in Canada. Two C/Us of trainees in the control tower. Good shots of the runway with several Fairey Battle fighter aeroplanes lined up prior to take off, squadron of airmen are marching past. C/U of a pilot seated in his aircraft. Various shots of a single engined trainer plane taking off. Pan with a Fairey Battle taking off. Aerial shot of the runways and hangars at the base.

 

Unknown Pilot – Redux

LAC Jones reminded me of Gilles Poudrette.

These pictures came from Eugène Gagnon’s collection.

Eugène Gagnon is not on them.

Only a name is written at the back…

Gilles Poudrette (collection Eugene Gagnon via Jacques Gagnon)

Gilles Poudrette (collection Eugene Gagnon via Jacques Gagnon)

Only a name just like Eugène Gagnon was just a name back in 2010.

Just a name… 

I wonder who is Gilles Poudrette.

I have always wonder if this is Gilles Poudrette’s headstone…

In memory of
Leading Aircraftman

 JOSEPH GILLIES POUDRETTE

who died on October 23, 1943

Military Service:

• Service Number: R/104609
• Age: 21
• Force: Air Force
• Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force
• Division: 432 Sqdn.

Additional Information:

Son of Mr. and Mrs. O. Poudrette, of West Sherbrooke, Province of Quebec, Canada.

I wonder where are his war medals and how he is remembered by?

No. 2 S.F.T.S. Uplands – Course 63 – September 1 to December 18, 1942

29 young men.

How many became pilots and how many survived the war?

About No. 2 S.F.T.S. Uplands

Inside Uplands

Great article here from Vintage Wings.

Walter Neil Dove’s Record of Service

Walter Neil Dove documented well his war years, and his grandson has shared everything with me since September 2011. I had never realised Walter Neil Dove was an instructor at No. 2 S.F.T.S. Uplands before Greg sent me all these pictures.

I was awestruck when I saw them, and the reason is for everyone to see why…

Walter Neil Dove’s collection of pictures taken at No. 2 S.F.T.S.

Instructors at No. 2 S.F.T.S. Uplands – 1942

P/O Rose from Toronto

Walter Neil Dove

F/L Sprague, Ottawa

F/O Teters, California

S/P Baker, Hamilton

Rear

F/L Pook, Ottawa

WO Couse, St. Catherines

Instructors of G. Flight

No. 2  S.F.T.S. Uplands, Ontario

What became of those instructors during the war?

I know what became of Walter Neil Dove.

Everything is in the blogs that pays homage to the squadrons he was with: RCAF 128 (F) Squadron (37 posts) and RCAF No. 403 Squadron (399 posts).

Just a picture?

Think again… when you read Greg Bell’s message.

Hello Pierre,

Here are the pictures when my Grandpa Dove was an instructor in Uplands, Ottawa. 1942. He kept a good detail of pictures of his peers. That made up “G” Flight. He and the other instructors had a blast from what I see in the pictures. Was always interested in the lady as well, their timekeeper. Don’t know much about her. She was their timekeeper.  Keep up the good work in telling the tales of these airmen and women.

Greg